Automatic apparatus for uniting tinned-metal plates by heat and pressure



(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. H. PERKINS.

Automatic Apparatus for Uniting Tinned Metal- Plates Q by Hea 's ailgd Pre ssure.

ed N gso.

W|TNESSES.

2. E t I v I3 65 Mr N.F'ETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPMER, WASHINGTONv D C.

(ModeL) 2 Sheets-Shep}; 2.

G. H. PERKINS. I Automati'o'AppaJraJt-us for Uniting Tinned-Metal Plates 4 by Heat and Pressure. No. 234,423. Patented Nov. 16, I880.

I Willlllliil IIII'III'IIIII I iNVEN-TQR al/1+ aglzwigl name STATES 'ATENT Fries.

GEORGE H. PERKINS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR UNITING TlNNED-METAL PLATES BY HEAT AND PRESSURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,423, dated November 16, 1880.

Application filed March 19, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. PERKINS, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Automatic Apparatus for Uniting Tinned Metal by Heat and Pressure, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the method of effecting, and to that class of machinery which effects, the union'ot' separate pieces of tinned metal by heating the parts to be united and uniformly pressing the same into a solid mass, without the application of the soldering-iron or any additional solder or amalgam beyond that which is contained upon the metallic pieces or plates themselves when sold in the market, the above method having been patented to Joseph Le Comte in and by Letters Patent No. 85,742, dated January 12, 1869. It further relates to Letters Patent No. 150,887, dated ildgay 12, 1874, and No. 151,].55, dated May 19,

74c. ratus for effectuating the method referred to.

The object of my present invention is to construct an automatic machine which makes use of the method of union by heat and pressure in the formation of the nozzles of petroleum and other cans.

.In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a form of apparatus conveniently eft'ectuating my invention; Fig. 2, a top-plan view of the same, partially sectioned to show construction; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the mandrel, mandrel-lever, die or soldering-iron, and diesocket, exhibiting their structural relationship; Figs. 4 and 5, sectional details of the mandrel, die or soldering-iron, die-socket, and attachments with the nose portion and blank of the nozzle applied, Fig. 4 representing the parts before union, and Fig. 5 in the act of union; Figs. 6 and 7 respectively, a section and bottom plan of the blank or portion of the tinished nozzle which is united to the opening in the can, the parts being represented in the position they occupy in the machine, which is the reverse of that which they occupy on the can, as the nozzle of Fig. 10, for instance, is inverted before it is soldered upon the can; Figs. 8 and 9, similar views of the nose or screw-threaded portion which itis the purpose of this apparatus to unite by heat and pressure to the aforesaid blank, and which in the ranted to me for improvements in appa finished product receives the screw-cap, (not shown in drawings;) Figs. 10 and 11, similar views of the nose and blank united to form the completed nozzle.

It will now be understood that the nozzles which my apparatus is designed to aid in making consist of two portions: first, a circular plate or blank, (shown in Figs. 6 and 7,) made of very thin metal easily out, which plate in the finished product is soldered over an opening in the top of the can; and, second, a nose or screw-threaded cylinder with a turned-in flange, which flange is united to the blank by means of heat and presslgre applied as hereinafter set forth. The screw-threaded portion of the nozzle receives the cap or cover, which is threaded to fit thereupon. After the finished nozzle is applied to the can, and before access can be had to the contents thereof, the metal of the blank which lies within theliange of the nose is to be cut through.

Figs. 12 and 13 are, respectively, aside section and a bottom-plan view of the socket for the die or soldering-iron.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the upper and lower heads of the frame-work, showing the lever-guideways.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The broad idea of the present invention is the provision of an automatic rotary apparatus of size sufficient to enable the continuous feeding of any desired number of nose portions and blanks, the continuous application of heated dies or soldering-irons, the continuous union of blanks and nose portions by heat and pressure resulting from the continuous reciprocation of mandrels to compress the blanks and nose portions against the heated soldering-irons, and, finally, the continuous, removal of cold irons and finished nozzles, to be followed again and successively by a fresh supply of blanks, nose portions, and hot irons.

It is to be understood that the blanks and nose portions are formed to the shapes shown in Figs. 6, 7, S, and 9 previously to their manipulation in the apparatus under discussion, and by other mechanism.

The following is a description of a convenient form of apparatus embodying my inven tion: A is a rotary frame-work, of any de- ICO sired construction, preferably consisting of a central shaft, a, suitably journaled, and actuated to the requisite rotation by a worm-gearing, 1) b, at its base. Erected about the shaft and upon the worm-wheel b are a series of pillars, 0, made hollow to contain bindingbolts d. At top these pillars support a disk or head, B, (called herein the lower heath) concentric with the shaft a, upon which lower head, in line with the pillars c, are erected a second series of pillars, 6, also secured by the bolts d, which latter pillars at top support the upper head, 0, similar to the lower head. Between the heads B and 0, around their peripheries, are erected a series of vertical lever-guideways, L, Fig. 14, corresponding in number to the number of the mandrels and designed to guide the inner free extremities of the mandrel-levers in the up-and-down movements imparted to them by the camway. Bolted to the upper head, 0, are any given number of segments,D, well made, of the form shown in Fig.2, the combined arrangement of which results in the provision of a circular ledge, E, to the under face of which are secured the die or soldering-iron sockets F, the number of which corresponds to the number of mandrels empl yed. A good form of these sockets is shownai Figs. 12 and 13. They consist of a meta )lock provided with a seat, f, corresponding to the form of the die end of the soldering-iron, and designed to hold the same in place over the mandrel.

1' is a bolt to removably secure the socket. g are metal toes interposed between the socket and ledge to prevent the undue heating of the ledge in the continuous employment of the hot irons in the sockets.

J is a rest for the handles of the solderingirons, secured to the upper ledge in such manner that when the hot soldering-iron or die, Fig. 4, is applied within its socket the rest supports its handle, and the iron is retained in place over its mandrel. Depending by any fit meansas, for instance, the hangers hfrom the upper ledge is a lower ledge, G, also circular, through which ledge themandrels project, playing in slide-bearings H in the ledge.

I are the mandrels, being metal dies, well shaped, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and provided around their upper top circumference with a bead, 1 designed to register with a groove,j, in the die end of the soldering-iron when the latter is in place in its socket.

The upper extremity of the mandrel is of size to receive and hold firmly the nose portion of the nozzles, (the flange k of said portion coming over the bead 1,) which are in the action of the machine successively applied by an operator to the mandrels, and the blanks then successively laid on the nose portions, as shown in Fig. 4. The mandrels are fulcruined to adjustable pins m, which depend from the upper ledge.

1t is obvious that when the heated soldering-iron has been placed in position in its socket and the nose portion and blank have been laid upon the mandrel, as indicated in Fig. 4, if the mandrel be forced up so as to cause its bead to forcibly compress both the flange of the nose portion and the blank into the groove in the hot soldering-die, and be then retained a suflicient length of time in such position, the nose portion and blank will be united by heat and pressure, and the completed nozzle of Fig. 10 formed.

I effectuate the reciprocation of the mandrel, its retention against the die when raised, and its lowering out of contact with the die by means of mandrel-levers K, caused to travel upon a cam way, J, and provided with weigh ts M, the whole operating in the following manner:

Connected to the mandrels at their lower extremities, which project below their bearings, are mandrel-levers fulcrumed upon pins adjustably attached to the upper ledge and depending from the same. These levers extend radially inward until they are within their guideways L, being provided with frictionrollers l, outside the guideways.

M are weights adjustably attached at any suitable point to the levers, which ordinarily tend to keep the free extremities of the levers down near the lower head, in which position the mandrels are of course thrown up to their highest extent.

Suitably erected, so as to partially surround 'the lower head and the lever-guideways, is a circular camway, J, as shown in Fig. 1, the curvature of which is such that when the machine is rotated the free extremities of the mandrel-levers, at the point at which the friction-rolls are provided, encountcring the same, are enabled to ride up upon it, in so doing raising their weights with them. The inclination and length of the camway are such that so soon as the levers commence to travel upon it the mandrels commence to descend from their highest position, which, it will be remembered, they had assumed when the weights of their levers had drawn the latter down near to the lower head of the frame-work.

It is to be borne in mind that the whole frame-work and all the parts heretofore described, saving the camway only, rotate together, while the camway alone does not rotate. It is obvious, therefore, that the mandrel-levers not only rotate in series with the frame-work, but are also caused to move verti cally upward by their enforced rotation against the fixed camway until they have mounted upon its highest portion, and are then forced to move vertically downward by their weights, such downward movement being controlled and steadied by the downward slope of the camway upon which they rest until they leave the camway and again rest near the floor of the lower head.

It will now be understood that so long as certain of the levers rest near the lower head so long will their mandrels be in full conjunction with their soldering-dies, the tension of the weights imparting any desired pressure which their adj ustability enables, and that during this period, which may, of course, be regulated in duration by the speed of rotation of the apparatus, length of camway, 850., the union of the nose portions and blanks on the given mandrels by heat and pressureis effected, the hot die being locked in place, while it will be also understood that, during the period when certain of the levers are upon the camway, on the one side of the camway the ununited blanks and nose portions may be separately applied to the retracted mandrels and the hot soldering-irons to their sockets, while on the other side of the camway the finished nozzles and the cooling soldering-irons may be removed. Attendants sit about the machine and accomplish these operations in regular succession, successively applying nose portions, blanks, and hot irons, and successively removing the cold irons and finished nozzles.

For clearer illustration I have represented in the drawings an apparatus provided with but six mandrels. In practice, however, any number may be used. I employ machines with sixty, the principle of construction and operation being identical, all difference being in multiplication of parts associated with each added mandrel.

The depending pins 122, which constitute swinging fulcra of the mandrel-levers, are provided with nuts a, split at 0 and rounded as to their bases, so as to cause them to clamp upon the threads of the pins, and thereby lock or set themselves firmly in their rounded seats at any given adjustment.

Taken in connection with the adjustability of the weights of the mandrel-levers, it is clear that the setting of the nuts 12 enables a very nice adjustment of the mandrels for given thicknesses of metal to be united.

The employment of weights likewise insures an even pressure to the mandrels and a much more regular tension than is possible when springs, cams, screws, or the like are employed to exert the union-effecting pressure.

The adjustment of the mandrel-levers with reference to the height to which they can elevate their mandrels should be regulated by means of their adjustable fulcra in such manner that if an operator should fail to insert any given die in its socket the free extremity of the mandrel-lever of such die will encounter and be stopped by the lower head of the framework before by further descent it can cause the elevation of the mandrel to such height as to crush the blank and nose into the vacant socket of the die.

In Figs. 1 and 2 is represented applied to the shaft a band-wheel, p, and band q, intended to impart rotation to a rotary furnace for heating the soldering-dies, the said furnace constituting the subject-matter of an application for Letters Patentbearing the same date of filing as this specification.

By a modification of the form of the mandrels and soldering-iron dies my apparatus is applicable to the union of other articles than the parts of a can-nozzle. I wish it also understood that I contemplate modified constructions of parts of my apparatus, and that in practice I resort to other and various allied mechanical cxpedients or arrangements for effectuating the invention hereinbefore set forth.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In an apparatus for ett'ectuating the union of separate forms of metal by heat and pressure, a rotary frame-work provided with a series of mandrels radially disposed about the center of its rotation and adapted to receive the forms to be united, and provided also with a corresponding series of detachable heated dies or soldering-irons corresponding to the mandrels and likewise rotating with the frame-work, in combination with mechanism which, during a portion of the time of rotation of the frame-work, places and retains the mandrels in such position that it is possible to both supply them with the forms to be united and to remove from them the united forms, and which also, during a portion of the time of said rotation, forces the mandrels into and retains them in conjunction with the heated dies, so as to effectuate the union of the forms, all substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. In a rotary apparatus for effectuatin g the union of separate forms of metal by heat and pressure, two circular ledges or tables forming the peripheral portion of the rotating frame-work, respectively provided and combined, the upper with any given series of sockets and rests for the soldering-irons, and the lower with a corresponding series of slidebearings, mandrels playing through the same, and meansfor operating the mandrels, all substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

3. The sockets F for the soldering-irons, in combination with the upper ledge, E, by means of toes g, as and for the purpose specified.

4. In combination with the circular ledge E, a series of sockets provided with seats for the die end of the soldering-irons, and a rest for the handles of said irons, whereby the soldering-irons are held fixedly in position over the mandrels.

5. In an apparatus for effecting the union of separate forms of metal by heat and pressure, the combination, with a rotary frame work in which the nnion-efiecting devices are radially disposed, and in which a series of radially-arranged and weighted mandrel-levers, connected with and adapted to reciprocate the tbrm-carryin g and compressing mandrels, are fulcrumed, of a stationary camway of suitable dimensions and inclination to actuate the mandrel-levers as the framework rorates.

6. The combination of inandrels with levers pivoted thereto, the rotating frame-work, and the pins m, adjust-ably supported by said framework and serving as fulera for the levers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In combination with the mandrels and mzunlrellevers, fuloru niing near one extremity 10 upon swinging pins m, leverguideways emmy name this 10th day of February, A. D. 1880. 15

GEORGE H. PERKINS.

In presence of- J. BONSALL TAYLOR, O. B. TAYLOR. 

